The Dean's List

I wrote this letter to Michael Jackson shortly after he died:     Dearest Michael, A piece of my heart died last Thursday.  I couldn’t believe it when I heard the news.  How could you be gone?  I haven’t stopped thinking and reminiscing about you since.  I will never forget the times I spent with you. You came into my life the same day I bought the Jackson 5’s first album – which was my first album too – well the first one I ever owned.  “Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5” never left my record player for months after I got it.  From the first listen to “I Want You Back” and “Who’s Loving You” to how cute you looked on the album cover – I knew you were the one for me.  There are so many times I remember from that day forward….. I Remember The Time ….When the Jackson 5 came to Rochester in the early 70’s.  My sister was allowed to go, but I couldn’t.  I cried for hours into my pillow while listening to your album. ...

I originally wrote this in 2001 for the Democrat & Chronicle while serving on the Board of Contributors. My daughter was getting ready to start her senior year in high school We all remember that TV commercial a few years ago that showed  the  man riding on a shopping cart down  the  aisles of a office supply store.  He was celebrating  the  fact that his kids were going back to school.  All parents know that  the  closer September gets every year,  the  happier we become.  Summers can be a very stressful time for parents.  Trying to find activities to keep kids busy and safe can be almost impossible at times.  Fact is, school is out, but work goes on.  Every year, I have taken  the  first week of school off as vacation from my job just so I could exhale. Now, do you also remember  the  TV commercial for  the  same office supply company where  the  paren...

The  barracuda  is a  ray-finned fish  known for its large size, fearsome appearance and ferocious behavior. Rochester's Barracuda It was 2007 and I was living in Phoenix, Arizona. A serious horseback riding accident and several other situations led me to make a hard decision.... come back home.  It felt good being home. I spent the first couple of weeks catching up with old friends.  One of the people I visited was a woman who was a constant in my life while I was growing up. Mrs. Slater lived across the street from my childhood home on Bernard St.  I learned she had some severe health issues and was wheelchair bound. She told me her son Jimmy had returned to Rochester from North Carolina to take care of her.  She made me call him at work. We talked for a bit and made plans to get together soon.  Unfortunately, that never happened.... Jimmy was working as a community organizer for Action for a Better Community. He attended a stop ...

The year was 1978. I was 16 years old and just started working as an intern at WDKX radio in Rochester, NY. One of the perks of working at a radio station was getting free concert tickets. Mr. Langston gave everyone on the staff tickets to see the Commodores (for you youngins, Lionel Richie was the lead singer). This group was one of the hottest acts out there! Every song they released went #1 on the R&B charts! And the fact that I had a crush on Lionel Richie was the cherry on the sundae. I couldn't wait to see this show!! Other than Lionel sitting at a white baby grand piano rising in the air with fog coming out of it while singing "Three Times A Lady", I really don't remember the groups performance that night. Why? Heatwave! We were standing on the floor of the War Memorial (now called the Blue Cross Arena) awaiting the start of the show.  I was excited to see the opening act, Heatwave.   Their singles "Boogie Nights" and the newest popular weddin...

I wrote this letter to Michael Jackson shortly after he died. Today marks 8 years since he passed away...     Me holding my very first album Dearest Michael, A piece of my heart died last Thursday.  I couldn’t believe it when I heard the news.  How could you be gone?  I haven’t stopped thinking and reminiscing about you since.  I will never forget the times I spent with you. You came into my life the same day I bought the Jackson 5’s first album – which was my first album too – well the first one I ever owned.  “Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5” never left my record player for months after I got it.  From the first listen to “I Want You Back” and “Who’s Loving You” and how cute you looked on the album cover – I knew you were the one for me.  There are so many times I remember from that day forward….. I Remember The Time ….When the Jackson 5 came to Rochester in the early 70’s.  My sister was allowed to go, but I c...

I wrote this a few years ago and will continue to share every Father's Day.... . It's odd...A man that I didn't have that much time with, one that has been gone since I was 6, one that I only have a few memories of, can still to this day have so much influence on my life! As time goes on, I thought it would get easier, but it has become harder! I guess it's the wondering what my life would have been like if he was around a little longer.... For now, all I have are the memories and proof that I had a Daddy...... I was around 5 years old and I was riding in the car with my daddy. A guy cut him off and my father had to slam on his brakes to stop. This was before car seats and seat belt laws, so I flew forward and hit my head on the dashboard. My daddy jumped out the car and ran over to my side to make sure I was alright. He picked me up and held me while drying my tears, at the same time cursing out the guy he had just hit. He took me to his favorite watering h...

I originally wrote this as an op-ed in May of 2000 for the local newspaper, the Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester, NY. I was a member of the Board of Contributors. I have many that I will add to my blog site over the coming weeks.  I chose to post this one because even though I wrote this 17 years ago, I'm sad to say that not much has changed!  Racism Is Alive And Well - (originally published May 2000) I know some of you may say, "oh here we go again!"  Another Black person complaining about racism"!  Please let me explain before you throw the paper in the recycle bin (or hit delete): From the day I was born, racism has always been my shadow.  My mother, White, the youngest of fourteen children born of Italian immigrants.  My father, Black, an only child born in Winter Park, Florida.  My mother originally followed the family tradition of marrying within her race.  She had three children and divorced.  She then met my father.  ...